Jeremiah

Chapter 18

1 The word1697 which834 came1961 to413 Jeremiah3414 from4480 854 the LORD,3068 saying,559

2 Arise,6965 and go down3381 to the potter's3335 house,1004 and there8033 I will cause thee to hear8085 853 my words.1697

3 Then I went down3381 to the potter's3335 house,1004 and, behold,2009 he wrought6213 a work4399 on5921 the wheels.70

4 And the vessel3627 that834 he1931 made6213 of clay2563 was marred7843 in the hand3027 of the potter:3335 so he made6213 it again7725 another312 vessel,3627 as834 seemed5869 good3474 to the potter3335 to make6213 it.

5 Then the word1697 of the LORD3068 came1961 to413 me, saying,559

6 O house1004 of Israel,3478 cannot3808 3201 I do6213 with you as this2088 potter?3335 saith5002 the LORD.3068 Behold,2009 as the clay2563 is in the potter's3335 hand,3027 so3651 are ye859 in mine hand,3027 O house1004 of Israel.3478

7 At what instant7281 I shall speak1696 concerning5921 a nation,1471 and concerning5921 a kingdom,4467 to pluck up,5428 and to pull down,5422 and to destroy6 it;

8 If that1931 nation,1471 against5921 whom834 I have pronounced,1696 turn7725 from their evil,4480 7451 I will repent5162 of5921 the evil7451 that834 I thought2803 to do6213 unto them.

9 And at what instant7281 I shall speak1696 concerning5921 a nation,1471 and concerning5921 a kingdom,4467 to build1129 and to plant5193 it;

10 If it do6213 evil7451 in my sight,5869 that it obey8085 not1115 my voice,6963 then I will repent5162 of5921 the good,2896 wherewith834 I said559 I would benefit3190 them.

11 Now6258 therefore go4994 to, speak559 to413 the men376 of Judah,3063 and to5921 the inhabitants3427 of Jerusalem,3389 saying,559 Thus3541 saith559 the LORD;3068 Behold,2009 I595 frame3335 evil7451 against5921 you, and devise2803 a device4284 against5921 you: return7725 ye now4994 every one376 from his evil7451 way,4480 1870 and make your ways1870 and your doings4611 good.3190

12 And they said,559 There is no hope:2976 but3588 we will walk1980 after310 our own devices,4284 and we will every one376 do6213 the imagination8307 of his evil7451 heart.3820

13 Therefore3651 thus3541 saith559 the LORD;3068 Ask7592 ye now4994 among the heathen,1471 who4310 hath heard8085 such428 things: the virgin1330 of Israel3478 hath done6213 a very3966 horrible thing.8186

14 Will a man leave5800 the snow7950 of Lebanon3844 which cometh from the rock4480 6697 of the field?7704 or shall the cold7119 flowing5140 waters4325 that come from another place2114 be forsaken?5428

15 Because3588 my people5971 hath forgotten7911 me, they have burned incense6999 to vanity,7723 and they have caused them to stumble3782 in their ways1870 from the ancient5769 paths,7635 to walk1980 in paths,5410 in a way1870 not3808 cast up;5549

16 To make7760 their land776 desolate,8047 and a perpetual5769 hissing;8292 every one3605 that passeth5674 thereby5921 shall be astonished,8074 and wag5110 his head.7218

17 I will scatter6327 them as with an east6921 wind7307 before6440 the enemy;341 I will show7200 them the back,6203 and not3808 the face,6440 in the day3117 of their calamity.343

18 Then said559 they, Come,1980 and let us devise2803 devices4284 against5921 Jeremiah;3414 for3588 the law8451 shall not3808 perish6 from the priest,4480 3548 nor counsel6098 from the wise,4480 2450 nor the word1697 from the prophet.4480 5030 Come,1980 and let us smite5221 him with the tongue,3956 and let us not408 give heed7181 to413 any3605 of his words.1697

19 Give heed7181 to413 me, O LORD,3068 and hearken8085 to the voice6963 of them that contend3401 with me.

20 Shall evil7451 be recompensed7999 for8478 good?2896 for3588 they have digged3738 a pit7745 for my soul.5315 Remember2142 that I stood5975 before6440 thee to speak1696 good2896 for5921 them, and to turn away7725 853 thy wrath2534 from4480 them.

21 Therefore3651 deliver up5414 853 their children1121 to the famine,7458 and pour out5064 their blood by5921 the force3027 of the sword;2719 and let their wives802 be1961 bereaved of their children,7909 and be widows;490 and let their men376 be1961 put2026 to death;4194 let their young men970 be slain5221 by the sword2719 in battle.4421

22 Let a cry2201 be heard8085 from their houses,4480 1004 when3588 thou shalt bring935 a troop1416 suddenly6597 upon5921 them: for3588 they have digged3738 a pit7745 to take3920 me, and hid2934 snares6341 for my feet.7272

23 Yet, LORD,3068 thou859 knowest3045 853 all3605 their counsel6098 against5921 me to slay4194 me: forgive3722 not408 their iniquity,5771 neither408 blot out4229 their sin2403 from thy sight,4480 6440 but let them be1961 overthrown3782 before6440 thee; deal6213 thus with them in the time6256 of thine anger.639